92 out of 104 wards open defecation-free: SDMC

Civic body has invited feedback, suggestions or objections from residents of these 92 wards in the next 15 days

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) has achieved a new milestone in its war against open defecation. The civic body on Wednesday declared 92 out of the 104 wards under it to as open defecation-free.

Parameters fulfilled

“After fulfilling all prescribed parameters for declaration of the wards as open defecation-free by a specific urban local body under the Swachh Bharat Mission, the SDMC made public its preliminary resolution declaring 92 out of 104 wards as open defecation-free zones,” the civic body announced.

Commissioner of the corporation Puneet Goel has now invited feedback, suggestions or objections from residents of these 92 wards in the next 15 days. The residents, meanwhile, can submit their feedback on dirdemscc@gmail.com or call on 22235253.

“In case no objection is received, the SDMC will announce its final resolution to the State government, after which the process to formally award the corporation open defecation-free status will be initiated,” the civic body said.

Also, third party verification will be conducted before the final status is awarded.

Access to toilets

Dr. Goel said that work was being done towards declaring the remaining 12 wards as open defecation-free zones. He added that required infrastructure was being set up to work towards this goal.

“Access to toilets is being enhanced in the remaining 12 wards by providing makeshift toilets. These are likely to be completed the next 15 days,” Dr. Goel said.

He said that officials have been directed to pull up their socks in these areas so that the requirements prescribed by the Swachh Bharat Mission can be achieved.

To the residents of all these 92 wards, the SDMC has provided access to either an individual toilet or community toilet within 500 meters from their houses, and has also ensured that all commercial areas in the wards have access to public toilets within a kilometre.

All three municipal corporations had fared poorly in the recent cleanliness rankings. In fact, newly elected mayor Kamaljeet Sehrawat has said that her focus would be on improving the SDMC’s ranking.